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O. V. GODDARD.

BUTTON.

Patented Oct. 14,1884.

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CHARLES V. GODDARD, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

BUTTON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. soaavo, dated October 1a, 1884:.

Application filed Aprillf, 1884.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES V. GODDARD, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Buttons, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of buttons which are secured in place on the garment by means of a metallic washer and connecting prongs or arms formed upon the button, or on the washer and passed through the fabric from one to the othersuch, for example, as illustrated in the Letters Patent granted to me on the 28th day of August, 1883, No. 288,7 72.

The invention relates to various details of construction, which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view'of my button and its fastening in their preferred form. Fig. 2 represents a central cross-section of the same through the center. Fig. 3 is asectional view on an enlarged scale, showing the button as it appears when applied to the fabric. Fig. 4 represents in perspective a modified form of the same. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another modification.

Referring to Fig. 1, A represents the front or body portion of the button, consisting of a back plate, a, and a front plate, Z), the edge of which is crimped or flanged over the edge of the back plate in an ordinary manner for the purpose of uniting the parts firmly. The body is provided on its back with two, three, or more rearwardly-projecting arms, 0, tapered or pointed at the rear end. These arms may be formed in one piece with the back plate, or they may be formed in separate pieces secured thereto in any suitable manner. It is preferred to form the arms with barbs or shoulders cl 011 their edges, as represented in Fig. 1, to prevent their withdrawal after being thrust through the fabric and into the washer or fastening-plate.

B represents the fastening-plate or washer, sometimes denominated the back of the button. It consists of a front plate, 6, and a back plate, f, having its edge crimped or turned forward over the edge of the front plate, whereby the two are securely united. The

(No model.)

front plate, 6, is provided with a series'of small holes or perforations, g, corresponding in number with the arms on the body of the button. The back plate, f, is constructed with a concave surface, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, to act upon the ends of the arms or prongs c, and bend the same inward toward the center in the act of applying the button.

In applying the button the pointed arms or prongs c of the body are thrust through the fabric from one side, and the washer or fasteningplate B applied forcibly and under pressure from the opposite side of the fabric, the arms of the button being caused to enter the openings g, and the pressure being applied until the arms are bent or turned inward toward the center of the washer, so as to overlap each other in the manner represented in Fig. 3. It will be seen that the extremities of the arms are seated between the plates eand f, by which they are confined in position and protected, so as to avoid contact with the person or the clothing of the user.

Owing to the fact that the holes. are of diminishing size toward their inner ends, it will be seen that on attempting to withdraw the button the inwardly-turned arms are caused to ride or wedge themselves tightly in the narrow ends of the openings,and thus retain. a firm engagement With the washer. The barbs or shoulders d, when employed, serve as an additional security against the separation of the washer and the button, since they engage or look in the converging ends of the openings. The arrangement of the openings with their narrow ends nearest the center instead of nearest the periphery, as in my former patent, is advantageous, in that it permits the arms to be curled inward toward the center instead of being curled outward toward theperiphery of the back plate. When extended outward, as in my former patent, it was necessary to make the washer at the outer edge of a thickness which was sometimes objectionable. Under the present construction Iam enabled to make the washer exceedingly thin at the outer edge, so that it may lie down closely against the fabric.

Instead of securing the fastening -prongs firmly to the body of the button, they may be in Fig. 3. In such case the body of the button will be provided with perforations, through which the prongs of the plate may be inserted from the front, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3, so as to pass through the button and the fabric into the washer on the opposite side of the latter.

The formation of the prongs and the manner in which they interlock with the-washer will be identical with that described in connection with the preceding figures.

In certain cases it may be desirableto reverse the arrangement of parts above described by forming the arms or prongs on the back plate or washer, and providing the front or body of the button with openings to receive them, as in Fig. 5. The form of the prongs and the openings in the body will be the same as in the preceding figures. The prongs will be inserted through the fabric upon the rear side into the openings in the back plate and the button applied in the front, the arms turnin g inward at their extremities within the button in the same manner that they were closed within the washer, as in Fig. 3.

In order to insure theturning of the prongs inward instead of outward in the act of applying the button, the washer may have a central depression or shoulder, 43, as shown in Fig. 2, to act upon the ends of the prongs and give them the proper direction as they are forced inward.

I claim is 1. In a button, the combination of a front body or button proper and a washer or fastening-plate, one of said parts provided with prongs and the other with corresponding openings of diminishing width toward the center, whereby the prongs are securely fastened when closed inward toward each other.

2. The combination of the button front or bodyand the fasteningplate or washer, one provided with openings of diminishing size toward the center, and the other provided with pointed prongs havingshoulders or barbs, as shown.

3. In combination with a button-body provided with prongs or arms, a back plate or washer consisting of two plates united at the V periphery, the front plate being provided with openings to receive the prongs, and the rear plate with concave surfaces adapted, as described and shown, to bend the prongs centrall y inward between the two plates, whereby said prongs are secured firmly in place, and also concealed and covered between the two plates.

4. In combination with the button body or front provided with pointed rearwardly-extended prongs, a hollow or double back or fastening plate provided in its front face with openings to receive the prongs, whereby the ends of the prongs are concealed, protected, and confined in position.

CHARLES V. GODDARD. Witnesses:

JOHN T. ARMS, W. O. ALVORD. 

